Saxophone Great Branford Marsalis to Make Australian Chamber Orchestra Debut Directed by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä

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Saxophone Great Branford Marsalis to make Australian Chamber Orchestra Debut Directed by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä

BRANFORD MARSALIS 9–22 May Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney

“[Marsalis’] energy level is instantly blistering, but without the usual connotation of vigour: this is more like dancing on air.” – SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2018

American saxophonist Branford Marsalis has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest living musicians. Born in New Orleans and hailing from a rich jazz heritage, Marsalis is renowned for his boundless musicality that sees him move effortlessly between the worlds of jazz, Latin and classical music. This exceptional versatility, paired with a thrilling virtuosity, makes him the ideal collaborator with the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), an ensemble that is renowned around the world for its intrepid and adventurous approach to programming and performance. Marsalis will make his much-anticipated debut with the ACO this May, where he will perform a Latin American inspired program with the Orchestra featuring the music of Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla and Ginastera, directed by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä. Marsalis hails from what has been referred to as the ‘First Family of Jazz’; his father is pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, and his three brothers, trumpeter Wynton, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason, are all also internationally- renowned jazz musicians. While still a student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Marsalis was recruited into Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers,

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alongside his brother Wynton Marsalis, and went on to tour internationally with the For interview request, images, media tickets band before the two brothers formed the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, which quickly earnt or further information, international acclaim for its virtuosic and uncompromising acoustic jazz style. please contact: Caitlin Benetatos Famously diverse in his musical approach, Marsalis went on to collaborate with ACO Communications Manager the likes of Sting, The Grateful Dead, Harry Connick Jnr, and the New York e [email protected] Philharmonic, starred as Music Director on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’, and p +61 2 8274 3825 hosted National Public Radio’s widely syndicated Jazz Set. He is the recipient of m +61 422 934693 three Grammy Awards and has nearly thirty albums to his name. These concerts with the ACO will see Marsalis perform Brazilian composer Heitor Villa- Lobos’s Fantasia for Saxophone and Orchestra, alongside contemporary UK composer Sally Beamish’s serene Under the Wing of the Rock, in an arrangement dedicated to him by Beamish, in a bluesy translation for saxophone. Marsalis’ performances alternate with Vänskä taking centre stage with her 1726 ‘Belgiorno’ Stradivarius violin to perform Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, a heady mixture of tango rhythms and ingenious references to Vivaldi’s famous concertos. Vänskä regularly performs as soloist with the ACO, with her 2017 performance of Locatelli’s notoriously fiendishHarmonic Labyrinth concerto hailed as ‘a masterclass in technique’ (The Australian) and her 2018 performance of Beethoven’s Romance No.2 praised for being ‘shot through with both light colour and depth’ (SMH). The ACO’s Branford Marsalis tour is presented by Principal Partner and National Tour Partner, Virgin Australia, who are proud to support the Orchestra’s vibrant and innovative tours. Through their extensive flight network, they are helping to share ACO’s music around Australia. Branford Marsalis 9–22 MAY Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney

PROGRAM STRAVINSKY No.3 from Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet VILLA-LOBOS Fantasia for Saxophone and Orchestra PIAZZOLLA The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires VILLA-LOBOS Ária (Cantilena) from Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 SALLY BEAMISH Under the Wing of the Rock: Saxophone Concerto No.2 Australian Premiere GINASTERA Concerto for Strings

ARTISTS Branford Marsalis Saxophone Satu Vänskä Director & Violin Australian Chamber Orchestra

PERFORMANCE DATES WOLLONGONG MELBOURNE PERTH Wollongong Town Hall Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Perth Concert Hall Thu 9 May, 7.30pm Melbourne Wed 15 May, 7.30pm Sun 12 May, 2.30pm Mon 20 May, 7.30pm CANBERRA SYDNEY Llewellyn Hall City Recital Hall Sat 11 May, 8pm BRISBANE Sat 18 May, 7pm QPAC Concert Hall Tue 21 May, 8pm Mon 13 May, 7pm Wed 22 May, 7pm

Sydney Opera House Sun 19 May, 2pm

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‘The Australian ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Chamber The Australian Chamber Orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for their explosive performances and brave interpretations. Orchestra is Steeped in history but always looking to the future, ACO programs embrace uniformly celebrated classics alongside new commissions, and adventurous cross- high-octane, artform collaborations. Led by Artistic Director Richard Tognetti since 1990, the ACO performs arresting and more than 100 concerts each year. Whether performing in Manhattan, New never ordinary.’ York, or Wollongong, NSW, the ACO is unwavering in their commitment to

– THE AUSTRALIAN creating transformative musical experiences. The Orchestra regularly collaborates with artists and musicians who share their ideology: from Emmanuel Pahud, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Olli Mustonen, Brett Dean and Ivry Gitlis, to Neil Finn, Jonny Greenwood, Barry Humphries and Meow Meow; to visual artists and film makers such as Michael Leunig, Bill Henson, Shaun Tan, Jon Frank, and Jennifer Peedom, who have co-created unique, hybrid productions for which the ACO has become renowned. Testament to their international reputation, the ACO were invited to commence a three-year residency as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court in partnership with London’s Barbican Centre from the 2018/19 season. This residency at one of Europe’s most prestigious concert venues follows on from the success of ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti’s time as the Barbican’s first ever Artist-in-Residence at Milton Court Concert Hall. #ACO19 In addition to their national and international touring schedule, the Orchestra @A_C_O has an active recording program across CD, vinyl and digital formats. Recent AustralianChamberOrchestra releases include Water | Night Music, the first Australian-produced classical @AustralianChamberOrchestra vinyl for two decades, Heroines, recorded with Australian soprano Nicole AustralianChamberOrchestra Car, and the soundtrack to the acclaimed cinematic collaboration, Mountain.

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